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The Lion and the Gazelle
By Felix | April 11, 2008
“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will die, so it prays to God in the morning saying “God help my feet to be faster than the lion today, so I don’t become its meal”. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death, so it also prays to God saying “God help my feet to be faster than the gazelles today, so I can feed”.
Now the God I know answers prayers, so who’s prayer will it answer on this day, the gazelle’s or the lion’s, I’m sure if you were God, you will be confused here, well I can put the question in another form, if Nigeria and Brazil were to play a football match today and both teams pray who’s prayer will God answer? I’m sure the answers will be different in Nigeria and Brazil.
Well the truth is God has answered their prayers by giving both the gazelle and the lion skills to survive, so now on this faithful morning, it will be up to the one who puts to best use the skills and abilities at its disposal.
And the truth is it doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”
The basis of this story is, in life we tend not to care about things that don’t immediately affect us, but on the long run, we become victims of circumstance. I was interviewed yesterday and when I told the interviewer that I have always been a Christian even when I was involved in vices in my past, she appeared shocked, and I went ahead to sight an example of armed robbers that prayer before they go and rob and she appeared alarmed at this, but truth is, some of them will pray also to get victims that won’t give them hard times and victims that will have enough cash or valuables and also they might pray not to get into confrontation with the cops.
I’m sure someone is shaking their heads now, but that’s the irony of life, where the lion has to eat and the gazelle wants to stay alive too. I remember my days on the streets when I actually prayed to get clients who will fall for my scam… when I think about it now… sounds funny and it also makes me realize how patient God is… with us.
I know till date that boys on the streets still pray and fast to get clients who will fall for their scams too. And the truth is they get people who fall for their scams, so now how will you be able to convince them that God didn’t answer their prayers. I ask this question because when I was on the streets, I prayed, fasted and even paid my tithe as a good Christian and danced when it was thanks giving Sunday when I hit big… all this looks very funny to me now. Of course when it came to reading the bible, I avoided the part of the bible that will prick my conscience on the job.
Basis of the whole story is a fundamental question I want to ask you today. Where do you stand? Because where ever it is, as the sun comes up in the morning, we all have to run. I have chosen as the gazelle, not only to wake up in the morning and run from the lion, but to try and make him a vegetarian, where he doesn’t miss any nutritional value from being a vegetarian.
Some of you might be wondering where I am going to with this,… not to worry, follow me closely, you might see things my own way or better still from a different perspective.
I used to be on the streets and I know how it feels like, I know the mindset of the man who is looking out for a victim to scam and I have decided before the law catches up with him( if it ever does) and instead of reforming him, puts him where after a couple of months comes out and becomes a smarter scam artist knowing what not to do, to get caught again and also getting in touch with a network of new friends who are probably in same line and can exchange ideas on how to go about jobs. I have decided before this happens, to create opportunities these guys can benefit from to make money LEGIT and also mentor and guide them through my initiative of STREET SKILLS.
I hosted the first meeting on the 8th of March 2008, just a month ago and after the feedback from these guys, I know if opportunities exist and they are given a chance just like I was over a year ago, they’ll change their ways and probably make even more money and add value to the society at large.
I will not be able to get all the street boys in Lagos or Nigeria off the streets alone, I will be needing all the help I can get to do this, but until that happens, I might be able to light a few candles that will light other candles too. If you feel up to it, to take responsibility for the society or should I call it the jungle we live in. Instead of waking up every morning and running, praying or hoping the lion won’t come across your way you can
1. Identify the nature of your “jungle.” Ask yourself what are the opportunities within your immediate reach and the ones you can explore with time to add value or to change the lion to a vegetarian? Let me put it that way.
2. Don’t run aimlessly. Gazelles run from carnivores. Treat anything that limits our society from being at its best as a carnivore, like today we are being called one of the most corrupt nations in the world, so I take that as my potential “carnivore.”
3. Association. Jungle animals survive together. And in our jungle we have to have associates we can work with or depend on, because together we can cover a lot more grounds.
4. Determination. Personal fulfillment in life bears a deep meaning when we remember the obstacles we have to overcome through our determination, I know it’s not going to be a smooth ride all the way, but if I can keep focused enough on the goal I am trying to achieve, which is getting our youth to be more value driven and staying legit, I am sure my children or children’s children will benefit from the effort if I don’t.
5. Lastly but not the least, A gazelle cannot run for the whole day; it has to know when it is safe and then use its time grazing, feeding a baby or socializing. I know someday I will look back at this as an achievement and probably be celebrated for starting it, because I know along the line there might be more dedicated people to follow the goal through.
I know all this might look like a tall dream, but to learn from the words of Dr. Benjamin Mays,
“It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in not having a goal to reach for. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal. It is a disaster to have no ideal to capture. It is not a disgrace not to reach your stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for.”
Our next meeting on Street Skills is taking place tomorrow and there are lots of expectations, i’ll fill you guys in on how the meeting turned out next week. Have a refreshing weekend ahead.
Peace N a Fist
Topics: Streets Skills, motivation, my story |
April 12th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Im thinking that u should some how film these meetings for us that do not live in your neck of the woods.publish them on uTube or where ever to get the code n post it here…would be great to see and hear for ourselves what is being said and see the expressions on the faces of those attending them.. just some food for thought.. ;)… later sweets hagweekend.. xxx
April 12th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
it’s funny how we tend to forget about our past struggles n how to look ahead and keep up with the same pace,stength n focus as we did in past moments of dreams…Life is abt overcoming! you conquer one mountain,n then b4 u knw it you’re faced up with the next-a bigger one.bottom line: don’t worry about failing,instead worry abt wat you’re going to tell GOD if u don’t even try!
Focusing on tommorow will help you move away from ur failed today..Xxx cwits!! Take charge.
April 12th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
This is really wonderful! As a matter of fact, you needed to have a special column in one of the 9ja dailies… Uhmm that seems more tedious at the moment but you’ll better handle that with time and more..
Bro, ride on!
April 12th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Good…Can’t stop loving the way you write. I will keep the four point in my heart…Wish you the best in your next meeting..
April 13th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
@debra… in future will get to that point, for now for them to trust me enough to come for the meetings, its becoc their identity is protected.
@becks …cant agree with you more.
@vinc … column in the dailies?… won’t be asy to write everyday, i can bearly keep up here… but its possible, we’ll get there.
@Jesusfreak … thanks.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:45 am
@ Felix
would love to see and hear you when u teach.. but i understand on the protecting part.. wink. xxx hagd sweets
April 14th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
That which we do for ourselves we take to our graves, That which we do for others in this world lives on for enternity.
April 14th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
that is pretty deep there imelda.. wink..tis true..
April 19th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Hey felix, the way u write keeps one waiting for the next post like the 2nd comming of Jesus, less i forget can u change this theme from street skills to street light, becos that is what u are turning these guys to, maybe am thinking aloud.